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Saturday, September 8, 2012

Survivor on the Run

my 1st run as a Survivor

The minute you have Cancer, you're either a Survivor or a Victim. Don't give me the statistics. Like my dad always says, ever since he became a Cancer Survivor over 7 years ago, "You're either in the100% or the zero%". So from now on, you can refer to me as a Cancer Survivor. 100 percent alive!

I used to run, I mean I used to run long distances and I've been meaning to do that again. My dad used to run with his chemotherapy pack attached to his port! You're never too sick to exercise and you're probably a lot better off with the adrenaline coursing through right along with the chemo-poison! I ran the Jerusalem half marathon two years in a row, I ran the San Diego half marathon, and the longest distance I ran was 35 kilometers straight with my dad when he was training for the Jordan Ultra-marathon.

I had not gone out running since my cancer diagnosis of July 22, 2012. Obviously, I've been feeling pretty bad. It peaked on the third and fourth days after chemo with severe nausea. I finally caved and went to see my family doctor and she gave me a prescription for, Pramin, which thankfully has really helped. I think I was under medicated on my first session of chemo and I plan to ask my oncologist about it and let him know how bad I felt.

After a glorious and restful day, with the holiness of the Sabbath still flowing, and the sweet scent of the Havdalah spices still in the air, I tied on my Sauconys and plugged into my music. I ran. I pounded the streets of my city with a new found joy. I cannot put into words how wonderful it felt to make my lungs burn and my muscles peform! I personally apologize to the residents of Ben Ze'ev street for my loud and off key rendition of What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger.

I'm not beating any records but I feel perfectly happy with my 5.48 kilometers and my 6.90 minute pace for now and who knows maybe I'll improve and maybe I won't but the main thing is to feel that alive feeling of a survivor on the run. I have felt sick and I've been a complete lump, laying around, not doing much of anything, feeling extremely nauseated by the smells of anything scented and foods - anything cooking... but this evening I feel sweaty and alive.